"…" Thoma fell silent, unable to argue back.
Even though he knew he was being used as a tool, Thoma still felt somewhat flattered by Lucian's words. After all, he was playing a critical role!
His role was the same as in the book: to be the hundredth Vision holder victim at the Vision Hunt Ceremony, using that as a pretext to draw out the Raiden Shogun.
Sure, there was some risk, but with so many allies present, the "Vision Hunt Ceremony" site would be filled with their people, so there was nothing to fear.
"Alright, I understand," Thoma sighed. Maybe getting arrested was just his fate.
His master wanted him arrested, the Prophet wanted him arrested—sigh.
The meeting concluded successfully, and Kujou Sara had already arranged for the Tenryou Commission to inform the Raiden Shogun that the "Vision Hunt Ceremony" was ready.
The hundredth Vision's ceremony would take place tomorrow.
By the way, someone at the Kamisato Estate didn't attend the meeting—Arataki Itto.
Both Kokomi, representing the resistance, and Kaedehara Kazuha, the wandering samurai, were present. Guess who didn't get an invite?
But Arataki Itto didn't mind. Just tell him where to go and who to fight—that was enough. He was too lazy to process anything more complicated, and as long as Kuki Shinobu was listening, that was fine.
Excluding him was also to avoid him finding it bothersome and impulsively charging at Tenshukaku, which would be a problem.
At the moment, he was playing with Paimon, and Gorou was there too.
As a general of the resistance, Gorou had naturally come with Kokomi, and Lucian had arranged for him to hang out with Itto.
"Didn't expect you to be so small but so strong, bro!" Itto laughed heartily.
He had just sparred with Gorou and was surprised by the strength of this little dog general.
"You're the one to talk. Even without a Vision, you're still this strong," Gorou said with a smile.
"But I'm more curious—how do you lead the Arataki Gang?" Gorou asked.
He didn't know much about the Arataki Gang's size, but given Itto and Kuki Shinobu's strength, it couldn't be a small group.
From the second act of the story, he learned about the resistance's internal morale issues, and through chatting, he heard how well Itto got along with his Arataki Gang brothers.
So, he wanted to ask Itto for some leadership tips to help guide his own subordinates.
"How do I lead the Arataki Gang?" Itto thought for a moment. "I just treat them like friends."
"Friends, huh…" Gorou pondered, finding it profound.
To be friends with so many subordinates—Arataki Itto was no ordinary man.
No wonder he could form the Arataki Gang and have someone like Kuki Shinobu as a subordinate.
"I understand. I'll do my best to try," Gorou nodded, his tone serious.
Itto scratched his head. What did he understand? What was he going to try?
Itto never could've imagined that he had "personally" created his own idol.
Without his "inspiration," Gorou wouldn't have fallen for Yae Miko's trick so quickly.
Gorou, unaware of Itto's confusion, had no time to explain, as Kokomi had finished the discussion and came out to brief him on the plan.
So, Gorou didn't have time to keep playing with Itto—he had to leave.
Seeing his "brother" Gorou leave, Itto turned to Kuki Shinobu, who had come out earlier. "Shinobu, what did Gorou mean by 'try'?"
Kuki Shinobu replied, "Probably trying to be friends with his subordinates."
But she thought Gorou would find it hard. It wasn't a personality issue—Gorou's personality was great—but a numbers problem.
The Arataki Gang barely had a handful of members. It was less a faction and more a group of buddies hanging out, already friends by nature.
Plus, people wouldn't join the Arataki Gang unless they clicked with Itto's vibe, so everyone was naturally on the same page.
The resistance, however, was far more complex, with varying numbers, ideologies, and goals. Being friends with everyone was near impossible.
Kuki Shinobu was curious how Gorou planned to try befriending everyone.
If he could befriend them all, that kind of skill deserved a certificate, right?
Maybe call it a "Social Butterfly Certificate." She'd consider getting one herself.
Kuki Shinobu had no idea that what Gorou would end up with was a "Streamer Certificate," becoming a VUP.
"Be friends? Like me and little Paimon?" Lumine walked out, having overheard Itto and Shinobu's conversation, and chimed in.
"Exactly, exactly! Me and Lumine are great friends!" Paimon giggled, clapping her hands and nodding.
"…" Kuki Shinobu looked at Paimon silently, holding back a retort.
But Lucian, following behind Lumine, couldn't resist. "Stupid Paimon, Lumine meant you're her subordinate."
"What! That's what she meant!?" Paimon gasped in realization.
She crossed her arms and turned her head with a huff. "Hmph, I'm mad now. I don't want to be friends with you anymore."
"In that case, does that mean I don't have to cover your meals?" Lumine teased.
Paimon froze, her eyes darting as her brain kicked into overdrive at the mention of food.
"Ahem, I meant Lucian! I don't want to be friends with him."
"Oh, really? Then I guess I don't have to hold back," Lucian said with a grin, his fingers twitching in the air.
Paimon wilted, frantically waving her hands. "Okay, okay, I'm not mad anymore!"
Moving on, by now, most people had finished reading the third act of the Inazuma story.
Many had one thought after finishing: It feels… unfinished?
The Vision Hunt Decree was lifted, but the more harmful Sakoku Decree showed no signs of being repealed. The Raiden Shogun only said she'd think about it, but what was the result?
Shikikan! Why publish a book that's not finished? Are you trying to keep us hanging?
Lucian had considered cliffhanging Ei's story, but after learning from Yae Miko that Ei wasn't reading, he dropped the idea.
This "cliffhanger" wasn't intentional—the third act only had so much content, and Inazuma didn't have a fourth act yet.
As for Inazuma's true ending, that would have to wait until the Raiden Shogun's Story Quest II.
If, in reality, they could convince the Raiden Shogun thoroughly and get her to abandon the Sakoku Decree early, would that count as spoiling in another sense?
Originally, he wrote books to spoil the future, but now reality was spoiling the future in his books? Wasn't that like shifting from the Path of Finality to the Path of Remembrance?
What a twist of ( ).
No way—this meant Ei's story had to take priority!
Convincing the Raiden Shogun to abandon the Sakoku Decree outright was tough, though. Without some real experiences, words alone wouldn't make her see reason.
Even if they couldn't fully convince her this time, they at least had to drag her out of her "shut-in room" first.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice: Gorou – About Arataki Itto
"Brother Itto is impressive and gave me some great advice. I really wish he could join my side."